The TCG market is convoluted for new debutants trying to stamp its mark, with behemoths such as Pokémon Card Game dominating the industry. That being said, not many have been able to hit the ground running as hard as ONE PIECE Card Game has. Perhaps backed by the legacy of the manga/anime itself, ONE PIECE Card Game has quickly turned into one of the most popular TCGs in Japan. In all honesty, it’s crazy to think ONE PIECE Card Game only debuted a year ago.

Having recently released it’s fourth set Kingdoms of Intrigue [OP-04] in late May, the TCG is now preparing for its next iteration. Cue “Awakening of the New Era” [OP-05], or by what it was previously known, “Protagonist of the New Generation”, which is set to debut on 26 August.

Protagonist of the New Generation [OP-05] is special in many ways. Not only does it commemorate the first anniversary of ONE PIECE Card Game, it will also be the first set to feature titular hero Monkey D. Luffy in his “Gear 5 (Fifth)” form, which was only portrayed in the anime a week ago (Episode 1071).

To add on to the festivities, [OP-05] will also feature Skypeia and the Revolutionary Army in terms of canon lore, where popular characters such as Sabo and Enel are included in the TCG for the first time. For those who don’t follow the series, Skypeia is part of the “Sky Island Saga”, part of the manga/anime’s third major saga plot line.

While the full set list has not been revealed in its entirety, here’s a few highlights from ONE PIECE Card Game Protagonist of the New Generation [OP-05]:

■ Special 1st Anniversary Illustration by Eiichiro Oda

One of the biggest inclusions fans are eagerly awaiting is the special first anniversary Monkey D. Luffy SR Card, designed by none other than the man himself, Eiichiro Oda. For the unaware, Oda is the manga artist and creator of the One Piece series, starting all the way back in July 1997. As revealed on his Twitter, this Luffy card is confirmed to be included in Protagonist of the New Generation, and there’s no doubt it will end up being one of the most popular cards from the set.

■ Introduction of Skypeia and Revolutionary Army Characters

As mentioned above, Protagonist of the New Generation will feature popular characters from Skypeia and the Revolutionary Army. Highlighting them, of course, would be none other than Sabo and Enel. Both will be part of the One Piece Card Game for the first time, and are also featured as Leader Cards for this set.

■ Gear 5 Luffy

Luffy’s Gear 5 (Fifth) appearance and abilities have been the subjects of much debate on social media in recent times. The titular hero unlocked his Gear Fourth all the way back in Chapter 784 in 2015, and would take seven long years for him to finally unlock his next form. There’s no better time to include it in the TCG, especially with the first anniversary celebrations and the recent debut of Gear Fifth in the anime as well.

■ Leader Parallels from Romance Dawn [OP-01] and Paramount War [OP-02] Are Returning

In conjunction with the aforementioned anniversary celebrations, One Piece Card Game is bringing back the Leader Parallel artwork from the first two sets, Romance Dawn [OP-01] and Paramount War [OP-02]. The six characters featured are Luffy, Sabo, Enel, Sakazuki, Doflamingo, and Belo. It’s a neat little throwback that honors the start of the TCG.

■ Protagonist of the New Generation Pull Rates

Here are the estimated pull rates of each rarity from Protagonist of the New Generation:

• These estimates are based off past sets’ openings.

In total, there are 127 different cards in [OP-05], with 27 parallel illustration cards. It’s a great set not just in terms of pulling something decent, but also the artwork featured throughout all the rarities look fantastic.

As we eagerly anticipate 26 August, check out the official ONE PIECE Card Game website for more details, full card list, and information. Don’t forget to check the SNKRDUNK App to find sealed boxes, packs, and single cards!